THE FOREST NURSERY 105 



Undoubtedly the best fertilizer for a forest nursery is de- 

 caying vegetable matter, frequently called muck, really 

 humus, for in such is the most vigorous tree-growth. 1 

 But that cannot always be secured in ample quantities and 

 it should be liberally applied and something else must 

 be provided. The next best is well-rotted barnyard manure, 

 which, when free from weed seeds, is very difficult to ob- 

 tain. Still, it can be used, even when containing weed seeds, 

 by ploughing or spading it under deeply and trusting to 

 time to destroy the germinating power of the seeds, some- 

 thing which may take many years. 



Failing to secure humus, or barnyard manure, in a satis- 

 factory condition, resort must be had to what are known as 

 artificial fertilizers. Caution should be exercised in choos- 

 ing these. Before determining which to use, careful experi- 

 ments should be made to ascertain which is best for the 

 soil to which it is to be applied, for soils are seldom alike. 

 Some artificial fertilizers may serve a good purpose on one 

 soil and be of no benefit whatever on another. There are 

 two, however, which almost invariably fill the demand for 

 forest nursery enrichment, and certainly can do no harm. 

 They are ground bpne and unleached wood ashes. The 

 former furnishes phosphoric acid, a small amount of lime, 

 and some nitrogen; and the latter gives the much-needed 

 potash. Fertilizers that are soon exhausted are not advis- 

 able. Something is required that will last for two or three 

 years, until the plants can be removed, and this feature 

 makes ground bone and wood ashes admirably adapted to 

 nursery conditions. 



A liberal application of wood ashes a few days before 

 planting, followed by ground bone, will serve a good pur- 

 pose in nearly all soils. They should be applied separately 

 for the reason that, if mingled before applying, the potash 

 in the ashes will liberate the nitrogen in the bone meal and 

 it will be lost. Apply the ashes and mingle them with the 

 soil to a depth of about three inches, and two or three days 

 1 See footnote to page 90. 



